New year, new shows! After holiday
hiatus, primetime programs continue, new series begin and established
shows return with new seasons. Here’s a look at what’s to come, plus
additional premieres in this week’s listings.

The Spoils of Babylon (10
p.m. Jan. 9, IFC) – Tobey Maguire, Kristen Wiig, Haley Joel Osment (yup)
and a bevy of other big names star in this parody of ’70s soap-operatic
miniseries, produced by Funny or Die. Expect over-the-top cheese and
drama in this hilarious six-part epic.

Shameless (9 p.m. Jan. 12,
Showtime) – After an ambiguous end for Jimmy last season, it appears
Fiona’s longtime on-and-off beau is gone for good (but we’ll see). This
season finds Lip in college, Fiona in handcuffs and Frank back to his
typical shameless ways.

True Detective (9 p.m. Jan.
12, HBO) – Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey portray Louisiana
detectives in this new anthology drama. Seventeen years following a
bizarre murder that the duo had supposedly solved, another similar crime
unfolds, pulling the men back into the investigation. The timeline
jumps between 1995 and 2012, revealing how the original case has
affected the men over the years.

Girls (10 p.m. Jan. 12,
HBO) – Marnie and Charlie are over (actor Christopher Abbott has left
the series) while Hannah and Adam are officially cohabitants. Jessa
hides out away from the city, Hannah pursues a book deal, Adam’s sister
visits and Elijah is back!

Chozen (10:30 p.m. Jan. 13,
FX) – Bobby Moynihan brings to life the eponymous white, gay, ex-con
rapper in this new animated series from the folks behind Eastbound and Down.

Kroll Show (10:30 p.m. Jan. 14, Comedy Central) – Nick Kroll (Ruxin from The League) returns for a new season of his underappreciated laugh-out-loud sketch comedy show.

Sherlock (10 p.m. Jan. 19,
PBS) – Two years have passed since Sherlock reportedly died at St.
Barts, but the peculiar detective reemerges when London falls victim to a
terrorist attack. Watson is relieved to see his partner alive and well,
but is also concerned as to how Sherlock will fit in his new life with a
new lady — Mary Morstan.

Looking (10:30 p.m. Jan. 19, HBO) – In what’s sure to be dubbed the Gays to Lena Dunham’s Girls, this new dramedy follows three men searching for personal and professional happiness in San Francisco.

THURSDAY JAN. 2

Community (Season Premiere,
8 p.m., NBC) – Sometimes fans’ voices really are heard. Creator Dan
Harmon regains control of the comedy this season after being replaced as
showrunner in 2012. Expect a few changes at Greendale — Jeff’s
graduated but not gone; Pierce has been absent since the end of Season
Four and won’t be returning; and, as explained via Donald Glover’s
Instagram in a series of emo posts, Troy will leave the series after a
few episodes this season.

Project Runway All Stars (9
p.m., Lifetime) – The final four create ready-to-wear looks to be
auctioned for charity. On the runway, the designers face an epic All
Star twist.

Couples Therapy (Season
Premiere, 9 p.m., VH1) – OK, trash TV alert! This is the fourth season
of the show where Z-list celebrity couples go to die, and I will
probably watch this mess because The Real L Word’s Whitney Mixter
and Sada Bettencourt are among the cast. Ever since Showtime’s lesbian
reality series mysteriously never returned to airwaves, I’ve been
jonesing for my Whitney/Sada drama fix.

Downton Abbey (Season
Premiere, 9 p.m., PBS) – This fourth season begins in 1922, six months
after Matthew’s death. Mary and Isobel mourn their great loss, O’Brien
causes a stir and Violet tries to help Molesley find a job.

TUESDAY JAN. 7

The Mindy Project (9:30 p.m., Fox) – Mindy talks Danny into being her “personal trainer” to get in shape for her upcoming vacation with Cliff.

Justified (Season Premiere, 10 p.m., FX) – Raylan returns to familiar turf as Season Five opens in Florida with the dangerous Crowe clan.